Wearable magnet-containing leash for animals

Abstract

Animal leash including an elongate member having a first end region and a second, opposite end region. A clip is arranged at the first end region and attaches to the animal's collar. Two pairs of magnetically coupleable magnets are connected to the member with the first pair including a first magnet at the first end region and a second magnet movable longitudinally along the member and the second pair of magnets including a third magnet movable longitudinally along the member and a fourth magnet at the second end region. The member has an extended, use state in which the magnets of both pairs are not magnetically coupled to one another. The magnets are configured and polarized to enable the magnets of both pairs to be magnetically coupled to one another and provide the member with a coiled state around the animal's neck.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An animal leash, comprising:
 an elongate member having a first end region and a second end region at an opposite end of said member from said first end region; 
 a clip arranged at said first end region of said member and configured to attach to a collar on the animal; and 
 first and second distinct pairs of magnetically coupleable magnets, said first pair of magnets including a first magnet at said first end region and a second magnet movable longitudinally along said member between said first and second end regions and said second pair of magnets including a third magnet movable longitudinally along said member between said first and second end regions and a fourth magnet at said second end region; 
 said member having an extended state in which said magnets of said first and second pairs of magnets are not magnetically coupled to one another, 
 said magnets being configured and polarized to enable said magnets of said first and second pairs of magnets to be magnetically coupled to one another and provide said member with a coiled state. 
 
     
     
       2. The animal leash of  claim 1 , further comprising a first movable magnet retainer arranged on said member between said first and second end regions and that retains said second magnet and a second movable magnet retainer arranged on said member between said first and second end regions and that retains said third magnet. 
     
     
       3. The animal leash of  claim 2 , wherein said first magnet retainer comprises a slot through which at least a part of said member passes, said second magnet being on one side of said slot. 
     
     
       4. The animal leash of  claim 2 , wherein said first magnet retainer comprises a first part in which said second magnet is situated, a second part, a hinge connecting said first and second parts and a cooperating latching mechanism on said first and second parts to provide said first and second parts with a first latched position forming a slot through which at least a part of said member passes and a second open position in which said first magnet retainer is removable from said member. 
     
     
       5. The animal leash of  claim 2 , wherein said first and fourth magnets are permanently fixed in position on said member. 
     
     
       6. The animal leash of  claim 2 , further comprising a third magnet retainer which retains said first magnet and a fourth magnet retainer which retains said fourth magnet. 
     
     
       7. The animal leash of  claim 6 , wherein said third and fourth magnet retainers are each movable along said member. 
     
     
       8. The animal leash of  claim 1 , wherein said first and fourth magnets are movable longitudinally along said member. 
     
     
       9. The animal leash of  claim 1 , wherein said first and fourth magnets are permanently fixed in position on said member. 
     
     
       10. The animal leash of  claim 9 , wherein said member comprises fabric and said first and fourth magnets are permanently fixed in position on said member by sewing said first and fourth magnets into said fabric of said member. 
     
     
       11. The animal leash of  claim 1 , further comprising two additional magnet retainers that each retain a respective one of said first and fourth magnets. 
     
     
       12. The animal leash of  claim 11 , wherein said two additional magnet retainers are movable longitudinally along said member. 
     
     
       13. The animal leash of  claim 11 , wherein each of said two additional magnet retainers comprises a slot through which at least a part of said member passes, said first or fourth magnet being on one side of said slot of the respective one of said two additional magnet retainers. 
     
     
       14. The animal leash of  claim 11 , wherein each of said two additional magnet retainers comprises a first part in which the respective one of said first and fourth magnet is situated, a second part, a hinge connecting said first and second parts and a cooperating latching mechanism on said first and second parts to provide said first and second parts with a first latched position forming a slot through which at least a part of said member passes and a second open position in which said additional magnet retainer is removable from said member. 
     
     
       15. An animal leash, comprising:
 an elongate member having a first end region and a second end region at an opposite end of said member from said first end region; 
 a clip arranged at said first end region of said member and configured to attach to a collar on the animal; and 
 a magnetic coupling arrangement that provides at least two magnetic couplings along a length of said member to provide said member with a coiled state in which said at least two magnetic couplings are present and an extended state in which said at least two magnetic couplings are not present, 
 said magnetic coupling arrangement comprising:
 a first magnet at a first end region of said member, 
 a second magnet at a second end region of said member at an opposite end of said member from said first end region, 
 a third magnet movable longitudinally along said member between said first and second end regions, and 
 a fourth magnet movable longitudinally along said member between said first and second end regions, 
 said third and fourth magnets being between said first and second magnets with said third magnet being between said first and fourth magnets, 
 said third magnet being configured and polarized to magnetically couple to said first magnet when said member is in the coiled state and said fourth magnet being configured and polarized to magnetically couple to said second magnet when said member is in the coiled state. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The animal leash of  claim 15 , further comprising a first movable magnet retainer arranged on said member between said first and second end regions and that retains said third magnet and a second movable magnet retainer arranged on said member between said first and second end regions and that retains said fourth magnet. 
     
     
       17. The animal leash of  claim 16 , further comprising a third movable magnet retainer which retains said first magnet and a fourth movable magnet retainer which retains said second magnet, said third movable magnet retainer being movable longitudinally along said member including to a position in said first end region, said fourth movable magnet retainer being movable longitudinally along said member including to a position in said second end region. 
     
     
       18. The animal leash of  claim 15 , wherein said first and second magnets are permanently fixed in position on said member. 
     
     
       19. The animal leash of  claim 15 , further comprising a first magnet retainer which retains said first magnet in said first end region of said member and a second magnet retainer which retains said second magnet in said second end region of said member, said first and second magnet retainers being movable longitudinally along said member. 
     
     
       20. An animal leash, comprising:
 an elongate member having a first end region and a second end region at an opposite end of said member from said first end region; 
 a clip arranged at said first end region of said member and configured to attach to a collar on the animal; and 
 a magnetic coupling arrangement that provides at least two magnetic couplings along the length of said member to provide said member with a coiled state in which said at least two magnetic couplings are present and an extended state in which said at least two magnetic couplings are not present, 
 said magnetic coupling arrangement comprising:
 a first magnet at a first end region of said member; 
 a second magnet at a second end region of said member at an opposite end of said member from said first end region; 
 a first magnet retainer which retains said first magnet in said first end region of said member; and 
 a second magnet retainer which retains said second magnet in said second end region of said member, 
 said first and second magnet retainers being movable longitudinally along said member.